Buying Low Dose Naltrexone
There is only one way to buy low-dose naltrexone: with a prescription.
It is illegal to obtain or purchase naltrexone without a prescription from a doctor. Additionally, low-dose naltrexone is only available through compounding pharmacies. Pharmaceutical companies do not produce naltrexone at lower doses.
The regular dosage size used for addiction is around 50-100 mg. To get lower doses, your prescription must compounded.
Compounding pharmacies can develop naltrexone at any dose necessary. Lower doses are usually around 2-5 mg, depending on the patient’s needs.
Your pharmacist can work with your doctor to determine the optimal dosage size.
Naltrexone at Regular Doses
Naltrexone is a drug approved by the FDA for alcoholism and opioid addiction treatment. It is a mu-opioid receptor antagonist. This means it prevents our body from experiencing the high/euphoric effects of drugs.
By negating this effect, patients can reduce their addiction to heroin and other opioids. It also helps by reducing withdrawal symptoms from these drugs.
However, this is naltrexone at regular strength. Studies have shown that lower doses of naltrexone have a variety of uses. Many people take low-dose naltrexone for chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and autoimmune diseases.
Ask Your Provider
Your doctor can give you more information about low-dose naltrexone. If you are considering taking this medication for depression, pain, or autoimmune diseases, it may be worthwhile to bring it up to your provider. They will help you weigh the pros and cons.
However, while naltrexone at regular strength is accepted by the FDA, naltrexone at low doses is still being studied.
Some doctors may need to be more informed about the positive results of these studies. If your provider is uncomfortable with low-dose naltrexone, it is possible to seek a second opinion.
Functional medicine doctors usually have more experience with and are more open to prescribing low-dose naltrexone.
The site ldnresearchtrust.org also has helpful information when searching for a provider.
Questions to Ask Your Pharmacist
- Do you have training with LDN? Our pharmacists have extensive hours of training and experience working with low-dose naltrexone. To dispense naltrexone, our staff must complete rigorous training regarding its uses for thyroid, autoimmune, dermatology, depression, and pain issues.
- Where do you source your materials? You want to be sure that your pharmacy’s sources are reliable and trustworthy.
- Do you have a certificate of analysis? You can ask for something called a “certificate of analysis.” This document outlines the purity levels of active ingredients the compounding pharmacy uses. Any compounding pharmacy should be able to provide this certificate without hassle.
Don’t be afraid to ask your compounding pharmacies questions to better understand their reliability.
Become Informed About Low Dose Naltrexone
Before taking any medication, it is a good idea to become informed on the topic. Talking to your provider and pharmacist can give you a good outlook on the benefits and drawbacks of low-dose naltrexone.
Additionally, there are support groups, both online and in-person, that can give perspective from people with 1st hand experience with the drug.
When you’re ready to move forward, ClearSpring Pharmacy will get you ready to go!
